MIKE McMAHON - mmcmahon@digitalfirstmedia.com
Bishop Edward Scharfenberger speaks at The St. Augustine’s congregation in Lansingburgh is celebrating 150 years at their church and 170 year as a parish, Thursday August 28, 2014

TROY >> The feast of St. Augustine was the appropriate date for the Lansingburgh Roman Catholic parish to not only celebrate its patron saint, but also mark the 170th anniversary of its founding and 150 years in its current worship space.

More than 300 attended a special Mass held at the stone edifice, located at 115th Street and 4th Avenue, on Thursday. Recently-retired Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard was a concelebrant with Rev. James “Jim” Spenard, St. Augustine’s pastor, who leads a flock of about 600 families. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany’s current bishop, Rev. Edward Scharfenberger was the principal celebrant.

Through prayer and coming together, the milestone celebration, which also included members of nearby parishes, showed that the church is much more than stone and stained glass; it is a family of people who have known each other for most of their lives.

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“This has been my parish since I was born,” said Nancy Emmet-Farnam, 63. She had been baptized at the church and had her two children baptized there as well. “There’s a sense of community here. Parishioners have lived here their whole lives and so we have known each other for all that time. It’s one big family.”

Emmet-Farnam also reminisced about her education at the nearby St. Augustine’s School.

“I couldn’t have gotten a better education. And, at that time, it was all nuns,” she said. “The school was huge but everyone respected our teachers.”

Over the years, the parish has welcomed those from churches which have closed due to decreasing numbers of those going to church. St. Augustine’s has seen many new members from other churches in Troy and in Cohoes.

Dozens from nearby parishes including St. Mary’s in Watervliet and other churches in Troy were among those attending Thursday’s Mass. There were 15 total priests, two deacons and the two bishops, said Kay Duclos, who helped organize the Mass, which was followed by a gala at the Franklin Terrace. Dignitaries at the gala were state Sen. Kathy Marchione, Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino, state Assemblyman John McDonald, state Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, and Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia.

“I just love being a part of this church,” said Debbie Kirkland. “It’s a family.”

She said that everyone especially appreciated their pastor, Rev, Spenard. She described him as “loving, caring, and understanding.”

There have been about 70 priests and pastors in St. Augustine’s history, according to a program at the celebration, which also showed a timeline of events to recognize the 150 and 170 years. The festivities will culminate later this year with a Christmas midnight Mass, commemorating the congregation’s very first Mass at its current worship space.

“We Augustinians are privileged to share life...to walk the streets...to be the family of God along with the people to whose spiritual care we are assigned,” said Rev. Spenard in the event’s program. “It is a gift. It is a grace... May our community at Saint Augustine’s ever give us joy. We are all in this together.”